Dramatic footage shows hot air balloon landing in car park after nearly hitting houses

This dramatic footage shows a hot air balloon landing with a 'bump' in a car park after nearly hitting the roof of houses during an 'erratic' flight.

Locals watched on with bemusement and horror as the balloon was spotted flying “very low and erratically” before it landed in the locked car park.

One witness spotted it flying over the M5 in 'trouble' before it landed with a basket “full of people” in Taunton, Somerset.

Local resident, Nicki Witherden managed to capture several videos of the balloon's descent - including it landing with a bump on the tarmac.

The 53-year-old officer administrator, who lives just opposite the disused car park, said the craft had been spotted across Taunton in the early evening.

She said: "I'd dozed off and my partner woke me up rambling about something so I got up and looked out from the balcony door to be confronted by the sheer size of the red balloon descending.

"Lots of people had gathered to look with the noise of the fire ignition, it was a little scary to watch.

"Amazingly no one was injured or hurt.

"Lots of people had seen it descending around Taunton and it just happened to land right near to where I live."

Another witness added: “The balloon looked to be in trouble as it went over the motorway. It came very low over shops.

"It flew very low and erratically before coming down in the car park.

“The car park was locked so nobody could get out.

“They waited for a key holder to arrive. Passengers managed to exit via a side gate.

“The basket was very full of people. When it landed they were all very quiet.”

It was reported no one was injured during the balloon's unexpected descent on Thursday (19 May).

The balloon landed in Allington Road Park at around 9:20pm on Friday and was collected shortly afterwards.

The crew and some nearby residents then helped squeeze the air out and pack it away.

One of the individuals onboard the balloon added on social media: "The pilot did a fantastic job to bring us down safely".

The logo on the balloon - Original Bristol 106.5FM - is for a former radio station that operated between 2007 and 2009.

The current owners of the balloon are Bailey Balloons.